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Ecclestone promises financial help for F1's small teams
Bernie Ecclestone has promised support for Formula One's three struggling teams to ensure at least 18 cars turn up on the grid at the opening round of the season in Australia.
Force India, Lotus and Sauber have made no secret of the financial troubles they face and have been working on a deal with Ecclestone since the end of last season. Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley said a deal has been promised and will ensure F1 has a healthy grid at the start of the year.
"Bernie has promised support for the teams and if that support transpires, they will be able to do the first few races," Bob Fernley was quoted by the Times.
"We have made it clear to the commercial rights holder that we have problems, as have Lotus and Sauber. It is not isolated to one team. Bernie has been extremely understanding. He's a racer. I think he realises this is serious."
The report in the Times values the deal at £20 million but stresses it is only an advance on the prize money usually paid to the teams over the course of this season.
F1's grid was cut from 22 cars at the start of last year to 18 by the US Grand Prix as Marussia and Caterham went into administration. Doubts still remain as to whether Manor, which has been rebuilt from the remains of the Marussia squad, will make the grid this year and any further collapses would bring F1 perilously close to a grid of under 16 cars, which it needs in order to honour commercial agreements.
Force India, Lotus and Sauber warned last year that something would have to change to avoid the loss of more teams this year, but it remains unlikely that the bias in prize money distribution towards the top teams will be overhauled. Life was made more difficult by the loss of Marussia and Caterham last year as it meant suppliers' bills went unpaid, creating a knock-on effect for the whole industry - the results of which were clearly visible at the first two tests as Force India was unable to get its new car on track due to cashflow issues.
However, Ecclestone's new deal should give the smaller teams the breathing room to make the first race, even if the longer term health of the sport has still not been addressed.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
